Hey guys, so its been two years…. Sorry doesn't begin to cover it. I don't even know if the original readers of this story are still waiting or have given up… well I've made you wait long enough, I tried to make this chapter long as to try to make up for all this time. I hope you enjoy, let me know and your feed back is always welcome!
She stared down at their clasped hands, feeling her cheeks getting warm. "Abarai-kun" she spoke softly as she looked up at him. He looked so intense and focused, as if he was on a life or death mission. She looked behind her and Ichigo had started to follow them with his head tilted and his arms crossed, looking confused. She was starting to stumble and was having trouble keeping up to Renji's pace. She tugged her hand back a little snapping Renji out of his train of thought. "Orihime… sorry I was distracted" "That's ok" she smiled "I know how you feel" "You do?!" Renji exclaimed. "mmm" she agreed "I'm starving too and can't wait to see what they have to eat!"
He smiled softly looking down at her 'of course she's thinking about food, you idiot' He let go of her hand and chuckled, slowing down his pace and waiting to walk beside her. Ichigo was now rushing to catch up 'that damn strawberry head! Why did he have to show up? Everything has been going perfectly fine, no espada have appeared and with him here Orihime was in danger once again. Grimmjow said he wanted to play with Ichigo and here he was. Which meant Grimmjow could follow him. He started to feel foolish now that he thought about earlier, when Orihime had said she felt the same way, he felt happy for a second thinking that Ichigo's presence bothered her. How could Ichigo's presence bother her if she's been like a puppy in love with him ever since he's known her? He felt his mood go down in the dumps a little but didn't let it show Ichigo had now caught up to them and was telling Orihime how everyone was doing back in town.
He smiled down to Orihime answering her questions about Ichida, Chad, Yoruichi and every one else back home. She looked better than the last time he saw her, she looked refreshed and he could tell she had been getting her sleep in. It still bothered him a bit how she let herself be lead away by Renji, how he just took those liberties with her. 'They have been together for so long now its normal that they grow close, friends do that… right?' he pushed the thought aside and asked her what she felt like eating tonight. "well… I wonder if they have a market around here, do you know Kurosaki-Kun?" she asked as she looked around the first couple of houses they were passing by. " I think I saw one a couple more houses down Inoue" He patted her head and looked over to Renji who was scowling now. "what's with you pineapple head?" "who are you calling pineapple head strawberry boy!" Renji answered a bit annoyed.
"Please, don't fight, I'm sure once we get food in our stomachs we'll be as good as new" Orihime smiled trying to make peace. They both looked away and walked silently along. "look! there's a ramen stand" Orihime exclaimed and hurried up to the old woman stirring a big pot. "wow, it smells so good!" Orihime inhaled. "Yes, and after having some warm food in your bellies you could get a room at the inn to spend the night" the old woman pointed across the street with a smile " we welcome the few travelers we get here as well as their business" she smiled even more "oh we don't need a room" Ichigo walked up and sat on a stool "we are staying at the house at the entrance of the village" Orihime continued as she looked at the pots trying to decide what to eat. "house at the entrance of the village?" the old woman asked "What she meant to say is we aren't far from our home" Renji pipped in, Yoruichi had said no one could see the house they were staying at. "Our friend here though needs a place to stay as he lives on a different planet" Renji smirked and looked over at Ichigo "and he has also offered to buy us a meal if we could find him a place to stay" Ichigo was about to protest but was interrupted by Orihime's squeal "thankyou so much Kurosaki-kun a warm meal is just what I needed!" he sighed defeated and smiled down at her. He had grown so used to having her around it felt as if she had been gone forever. He asked the old woman to give them food and some thing to drink. Ichigo and Orihime had some vegetable stew and Renji choose curry. Orihime asked for some tea to drink and noticed it tasted a little different but thought maybe it was a different type or it might have been a secret recipe which se decided she would later convince the old lady to give to her. In her mind it was a super secret recipe that had been handed down for centuries but she was determined she could convince the old woman to give her.
They all ate and were ready to head home, Ichigo and Renji stood up and Orihime did too a little slower than them. Ichigo went to pay the old woman while Renji and Orihime started their walk back. She felt weird, everything was so far away and she felt her head spin. Her limbs felt like noodles as she tried to walk. She felt like she had to focus extra hard just to look at the road ahead of her without it moving side to side.
"What?! That much for three bowls and drinks?! No wonder you don't get visitors!" both Renji and Orihime turned to look at Ichigo yell at the smiling old woman. "Hey you idiot! How can you yell at someone who just fed us! Just pay the woman and let's go!" Renji yelled at him, Ichigo glared at him "get over here and help me pay this, its all your fault we are in this mess!" "my fault?! How is it my fault?" Renji stomped back. Orihime just stood there trying to get a grip on her senses, what's wrong with me? She thought. "guys?" she barely spoke but both Renji and Ichigo looked up just in time to see her fall flat on her face
"Inoue!" "Orihime" they both yelled and ran to her. Ichigo got to her first and he carefully picked her up while Renji brushed the hair our of her face. "Orihime? Are you ok?" she suddenly threw up all over his feet. She started laughing "Renji, what's with that look?" she grabbed his cheeks trying to make him smile. She stopped and stared deep into his eyes "wow Renji" he felt his heart beat start kicking up and an electrical shock go down his spine. Forgetting she just threw up he saw those gray-hue eyes looking at him and her plump lips slightly open. "you're hair is so soft" he felt as if a bucket of cold water was thrown on him "what conditioner do you use she started to stroke his hair even if it was tied she started to take little strands out and twirl them in her fingers.
"Ooops" the old lady was now behind them "I think I mixed my tea with hers" the old lady said resting a hand on her hip and the other to the back of her head. "you see I need a little spike in my tea so I don't get bored and fall asleep" she chuckled as both Renji and Ichigo glared at her. "well no harm done, a little hangover in the morning and she will be alright" the old lady started to walk away "oh no you don't" Ichigo handed Orihime over to Renji "how about you give me a discount on the food and a free night in the Inn?" he walked in front of her "how dare you try to take advantage of this poor old lady" she dramatically put a hand on her forehead "and how dare you get a minor drunk" Renji said smugly, the old lady's face dropped "minor?... of course you can stay with no charge tonight" she quickly changed her tune and started angrily pushing Ichigo towards the inn "make sure she gets home safe" Ichigo yelled back to Renji. Renji just nodded and started his journey back, carrying a drunk, sleeping Orihime in his arms.